This week chancellor Angela Merkel said the German military would stay in northern Afghanistan and that she had fought hard politically in the past, already with then US president Barack Obama, against a rushed pull out of troops.

“This reveals something which I think Germany can be proud of. It’s sometimes said that ‘it takes forever before you guys reach a decision where you’re going.’ Yes, sometimes it might take a little longer than with others but once we’re there, we’re staying. So we have decided — and I fought hard politically for this, already with President Obama — not to pull out of Afghanistan too hastily,” Merkel said.

The number of British troops in Afghanistan could be increased by around 70%.